Some may argue that in the modern world people are becoming apathetic and increasingly seeking lower and lower types of entertainment. In fact, the degenerating society is a notion held by much of the world. Headlines in newspapers and TV continually debase the gaming culture and criticize those who seek idle entertainment because it's seen as unproductive junk.
Everything Bad is Good For You by Steven Johnson is a fantastic rebuttal to this claim. Without going into too much depth, he proves the cognitive benefits of engaging with what is commonly regarded as "junk" entertainment. He says our culture is actually becoming more and more complex, that people are learning a great deal from video games with challenging intellectual puzzles and tv shows with intricate plot lines and characters' relationships. Gamers and tv watchers may not realize how much training they are actually giving their brains. I recommend this book, especially if you disagree with Johnson's claim--as I did at first.
There are two tenets of learning I want to describe:
1. The importance of awareness
2. Learning to teach
1st:
The things one normally associates with learning are easily identifiable. The proverbial image of a child reading a textbook probably comes to mind. Perhaps, but less often, an image of someone reading an article on a website such as
Psychology Today may come to mind. The image of a kid playing games on the computer probably never comes to mind. It's important that we realize how often we acquire new information without consciously knowing it. You may ask why, if we acquire the information, does it make a difference whether we realize it? I think it's important because as we develop a working hypothesis of how we acquire information, we learn more about our memory and retention, and thus become more educated in how to be educated. (One thing that isn't stressed enough in our education.) Once we learn how we process information, retaining bits and pieces of what we learn will become much easier.
For example, have you ever considered that while browsing Facebook, looking at trivial status updates and frivolous wall posts, you could be learning something about social relationships you could not learn otherwise? Have you ever considered that while you play
The Sims you could be developing a working model of how a society should ideally run, or how lowering industrial tax rates can revive a rundown manufacturing district? Have you considered that while debugging frustrating computer problems, you could be developing applicable, real life problem solving skills and increasing your brain's capacity to handle complexity? Once we realize how much we're learning, it's easier to commit learned material to memory for easy access later.
2nd:
Really learning something, knowing the ins and outs, and being able to discuss something in depth and with conviction, takes a great amount of work. It's easy to fall under the assumption that those who have mastered some subject are just naturally adept at what they do and can do it without any difficulty. Read
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell for some excellent proof against this assumption. What does take a lot of work but what I have found profoundly helpful in my learning is doing so with the intent to teach. No, masters of subjects have not all done this--some may actually be horrible teachers--but it gives one a straightforward course to validating one's efforts and motivating oneself. I believe it is imperative to be active with that which you are learning. You must deliberately and constantly cogitate on whatever it is. It is very beneficial to pretend as though you are giving someone a lecture on your subject, anticipate questions he might have, and develop thorough answers to those questions. Imagine a retort to your argument and emulate a rebuttal or counterpoint in your mind.
The whole learn-to-teach thing makes for a nice snowball effect. Learning to teach effectively makes you a good teacher. And teaching, in itself, is an excellent learning method. Teaching and learning are two of the most inherent tendencies we have so I think it's best to consciously tie them together.